Nau mai ki te pānui
o Ngā Taonga
Welcome to our newsletter In this issue we are pleased to share our annual Waitangi Day compilation, alongside some charming footage of model trains, scenes from the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, and an audio recording of Māori language champion Huirangi Waikerepuru. This year's Waitangi film compilation, Tāngata Whenua-Tāngata Tiriti: Kotahitanga, has been thoughtfully curated to share the history of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, using audiovisual footage from the 1970s and 1980s.
The compilation of taonga features viewpoints and voices of Tāngata Whenua and Tāngata Tiriti speaking at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds over the decades. From rangatira to former prime ministers, these speeches acknowledge the foundations of the Treaty, the concept of partnership and the strong binding notion of kotahitanga (unity).
You can watch Tāngata Whenua-Tāngata Tiriti: Kotahitanga on our website, or at some libraries, museums and galleries across the motu, including the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and National Library of New Zealand. This enigmatic little amateur film shows several model trains and a railway, shot in loving detail with many close-ups and action shots. It dates from 1954, although the iris-in effects and film stock might give the impression of it being older. It’s clear that a lot of time and attention has been poured into getting these miniature trains just right, and there is something moving about still being able to admire the handiwork 70 years later. Keep an eye out for fleeting shots of the modelmaker himself, one Frank Roberts. Hei taunaki i te hunga rikarika ki ngā kupu hamumu o te arero pounamu, waihoki he hokinga mahara ki te ranea toka tū moana i kaha whawhai, i tū rangatira mō te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori te take.
Tāwhitia ngā kōrero rongomaiwhiti, he wāhinga kōrero, he kaponga irirangi i rere ki te tai ki wīwī, te tai ki wāwā.
To celebrate and commemorate the champions of te reo Māori, listen to this recording of Huirangi Waikerepuru, a Ngati Rārua stalwart who fought to have te reo Māori recognised and heard nationwide on the radio.
This month we mark the 75th anniversary of the Auckland British Empire Games, which later evolved into the Commonwealth Games. 1950 was the first time the Games had been held since before World War II, and for some it was a sign of life returning to normal. It also provided a welcome shot of international publicity for Auckland. Officially 264,694 spectators attended the Games at Eden Park, including the person who shot this film. News briefs - The Ngā Taonga offices will be closed on Thursday 6 February for the Waitangi Day public holiday. However, the National Library will still be hosting events, and our compilation Tāngata Whenua-Tāngata Tiriti: Kotahitanga will be playing in the building.
- Enjoy some new and recently preserved historical footage of Wellington, via The Post.
- See more details about Waitangi Day events in the National Library.
IMAGE CREDIT INFORMATION 1. Hero image for Tāngata Whenua - Tāngata Tiriti: Kotahitanga. Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. 2. Screengrab from F27511 PERSONAL RECORD. BURNS, ERIC F. [FRANK ROBERTS GI NZR MODELS] 3. Tākuta Huirangi Waikerepuru, by Charlotte Curd, via Te Ara Dictionary of New Zealand. 4. Screengrab from F132012 PERSONAL RECORD. [ATHLETICS MEETING EDEN PARK, BAY, CARVER, SCHOOL CHILDREN, SCENIC VIEWS]
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